Are you worried about how safe your business is? Every day, hackers pose a threat to a lot of companies. You can find weak spots in your digital barriers with the help of penetration testing. This guide will show you how to do security testing correctly, step by step.
Get ready to improve your safety!
Describe the goals and scope
For security testing to work, you need to have clear goals. The group needs to make a plan for what they’ll try and how far they’ll go. The whole process is shaped by this step. It lets people work on the most important parts of a system.
Scope tells you what the test can’t do. It has a list of apps, networks, and systems to check. It tells users what they can and can’t do as well. A clear limit keeps the test on track and makes sure it meets the law.
That way, you won’t waste time on system parts that aren’t as important.
Picking a Penetration Testing Team
It’s very important to choose the right team for security testing. Many types of skills and licenses are needed for a good team. Titles like OSCP, OSWE, CEH, and CISSP should be held by members. These show that they know a lot about different types of hacking.
The team can handle a range of tasks during the test because they have a variety of skills.
There is only one weak link in a pen testing team.
OWASP is a major player in web security, and it has hundreds of groups all over the world. There are tens of thousands of talented people who are part of it. This information can help you put together a strong pen testing team.
The team is better at finding weaknesses because each person brings something different to the table.
Authorization and following the law
When malware testing, legal and moral issues are very important. Before they start any tests, testers need to get the right permissions. This step keeps the tester and the client out of trouble with the law.
Everything that is planned needs to have writing permission from the client. To avoid doing harm by accident, the test’s reach should be made clear.
Ethics hackers have to follow strict rules when they work. They should only be able to get into systems and data that the client lets them. Also, testers need to keep any private information they find safe. It’s a good idea to let the right third parties know about the test.
This keeps people from getting confused or setting off false alarms. It is important for pen testers to always follow the project’s rules.
Getting information
Getting information is a very important part of security testing. Tools like Airodump-ng are used by testers to map networks and get public information about the target system.
Getting Public Data
A big part of malware testing is getting public info. Testers find out about the target network from open sources. To find information on different platforms, they use tools like AWESOME-PENTEST.
These are computers that run Windows, macOS, and GNU/Linux.
When it comes to safety, knowledge is power.
Ethical hackers look for information about networks in public places. They want to find IP addresses, domain names, and information about employees. You can find useful information on public records, business websites, and social media.
In this step, testers make a plan of possible entry places that will be used in later stages of testing.
Making a network map
Part of vulnerability testing that is very important is network planning. Tools like Nmap and Masscan are used by testers to get a full picture of the target network. These tools look for open ports and services, which helps make a thorough map of how the system is set up.
Plus, Metasploit helps with this too, with extra tools for more detailed planning.
A good network plan shows all the devices, how they connect to each other, and any spots that might be weak. It tells us what to do next in the pen test. It helps testers find places that need more work and places where hackers might be able to get in.
The testing process goes faster and better when there is a clear plan.
Assessment of Vulnerability
A key part of security testing is figuring out what vulnerabilities there are. It uses tools like port scanners and vulnerability scanners to look for weak spots in a system’s defenses.
Port Scanning and List Making
A big part of security testing is searching and listing all the ports. Testers can use these steps to find open ports and learn more about network services.
- To check ports, use Nmap. This tool checks to see which ports are open on computers that it is used on.
- Write down a full list of services. This step shows you what programs can run on ports that are open.
- Test the most popular ports first. Some of these are SSH, HTTP (80), and HTTPS (443).
Find ports that don’t seem to belong. They could show you malware or secret services.
- Do scans with both TCP and UDP. One protocol is all that some services need.
- To find service types, use version checking. This helps find holes that are already known.
- On Windows computers, run SMB scan. It gets information about shares and versions of Windows.
- Look for web servers with open ports. A lot of apps work on web ports that aren’t common.
- Make routines to do some of the work for you. This keeps checks thorough and saves time.
- Make sure you don’t mess up live processes. Scan slowly so that you don’t set off any alarms.
- Write down all of your results clearly. This helps with the next parts of pen testing.
Looking for Vulnerabilities
A very important part of security testing is looking for vulnerabilities. It helps hackers figure out where a system is weak so they can break in.
- Do focused checks to find certain problems
- For full checks, use tools like Nessus or OpenVAS.
- Check for common bugs like SQL attack and cross-site hacking.
- Look for old versions of software
- Look at everything on the network, not just the computers
- Check both network entry points inside and outside the company.
- Look over scan results to find fake positives
- Put together flaws that are similar to make fixing them easy
- Give each flaw a risk level.
Make a list of the most important threats to deal with first.
- Check scan results by hand to make sure they are real problems
- Test again after making changes to make sure the issues are fixed
Note all the results so you can look them over later.
- Tell the right people on the team about the results
Making threat models
Modeling threats helps you find places in your system where it is weak. You can find risks before bad people do.
Figure out possible threats
Tools like STRIDE and PASTA help penetration testers find possible threats. These tools can help you find places where a system’s protection is weak. Bugs like weak passwords, cross-site scripting, and injection flaws are what testers look for.
Also, they look for new threats that could hurt the system.
Threat modeling makes security plans better by showing where risks are. Testers make a list of all the ways the system could be hacked. This list has both well-known risks and fresh, new ways hackers might try to get in.
The goal is to think like an attacker and find all the ways you can to break the system.
Check the level of risk
A very important part of security testing is figuring out the risk. Teams have to rate each threat based on how bad it could be and how likely it is to happen. To help sort threats, they use things like STRIDE and LINDDUN.
This step tells you where to put your testing tools and efforts.
They check things like how sensitive the data is, how important the system is, and what safety measures are already in place. To help put weaknesses in order of importance, they give them risk numbers. The testing method pays the most attention to problems that pose a high risk.
This method makes sure that the weakest spots are found and fixed first.
Training for an Attack
Attack simulation is a way to put theory into practice. Metasploit is one of the tools that testers use to find flaws and test defenses.
Taking advantage of known weaknesses
A key part of penetration testing is taking advantage of the holes that have been found. Expert testers use a variety of tools and methods to make attacks on a system look like they would happen in real life.
1.Use Metasploit Framework. This well-known tool helps testers take advantage of known security holes. It comes with a lot of bugs and packages that are already set up to work on different platforms.
2.Manual Exploitation: For many flaws, testers have to make their own attacks. To do this, you need to know a lot about code and system design.
3.Web Application Attacks: Common bugs like cross-site scripting (XSS) and SQL injection are what testers look for. Such hacks may show private information or let people in who aren’t supposed to be there.
4.Cracking Passwords: Weak passwords are a popular way to get in. This is done by testers with tools like John the Ripper.
5.Social engineering is a way to take advantage of people’s trust. Phishing emails or calls could be used by testers to get into systems.
6.Assuming more powerful roles: Once testers get into a system, they try to get more advanced access. Often, this means taking advantage of wrong settings or program bugs.
7.Network Sniffing: This is when testers record and look at network activity to find private information or weak spots. For this job, tools like Wireshark come in handy.
8.Attacks on Wireless Networks: On Wi-Fi networks, hackers might try to break WEP/WPA keys or take advantage of WPS flaws.
9.Mobile App Testing: Apple and Google app testers look for bugs in these apps. This means looking for data leaks and storage that isn’t safe.
10.Post-Exploitation Assessment: Once testers have access, they look at what might happen. They could try to get to private information or move around in the network.
Testing for social engineering
Social engineering checks security systems for flaws in people. There are tricks used in these tests to get private information from people.
1.For phishing scams, make fake emails that look like the real thing. Send these emails to staff using tools like Gophish. See who falls for the trick.
2.Pretexting: Make up stories to find out things. Pick up the phone and pretend to be IT help. Do not ask for passwords or other secret information.
3.Drop USB drives with test files in public places. It’s possible for malware to spread if staff plug them in.
4.Scam calls: Call people at work and try to get private information from them. Use scripts to make yourself sound like a reliable source.
5.Try to get into private places without the right ID for a physical entry test. Check to see if anyone stops you, like guards or staff.
6.As a lure, give away free stuff in exchange for login information. To get people to join, make fake games or polls.
7.Tailgating: Going into guarded areas without a badge and following staff. Check to see if workers are willing to challenge people in limited areas.
8.Check the trash for papers with private information when you go dumpster diving. Check to see if employees are properly shredding important documents.
9.Use social media to find out what the public knows about your staff. It can be used to make better tricks or figure out passwords.
10.For impersonation, you could dress up as a delivery person or a service tech. Check to see if this will let you into limited places.
Getting and analyzing data
The most important parts of vulnerability testing are gathering and analyzing data. Testers keep an eye on systems and collect logs to find holes in security. After getting these results, they look at them to figure out how attacks could get into the network.
Watching and keeping records
Monitoring and keeping logs are very important for security testing. These steps help keep track of what’s going on with the system and look out for possible threats. To keep track of network data, user activities, and system events, testers use tools.
In order to model threats and find security holes, this information is useful.
Logs keep a careful record of everything that happens during a test. They keep track of efforts to view files, changes to files, and network links. Reporting works better when you keep good records.
Testers use this information to give clients thorough notes on what they found. These studies point out security holes and suggest ways to fix them to make things safer.
Looking at Security Breach
A big part of penetration testing is looking at security holes and how they were made. The testers look into what the attackers did and how they got in. They check the logs, the network activity, and any changes to the system. You can use this to find weak spots in protection.
Tools like Wireshark are used by pen testers to look at network data. It’s their job to look for strange trends or signs of malware. The team also looks at what users do and what the system logs say. This deep dive shows where the safety measures didn’t work.
Next, we’ll talk about how to clearly report these results.
Reporting and keeping records
The most important parts of any pen test are the reporting and documentation. The team needs to make clear reports that list all the problems they found and how to fix them.
Report with Detailed Findings
The most important part of any security test is the thorough account of what was found. This report shows all the holes that were found during the test. It has specific information about each problem, like how bad it is and what effects it might have.
The study also shows what was done to take advantage of these flaws. This helps clients know what risks their systems really face.
A good report doesn’t use a lot of technical terms and speaks clearly. Findings are grouped by risk level, which makes it easy for readers to understand the most important ones. Each weakness has its own part with instructions on how to prove the idea.
The best studies also tell you how to fix each problem they find. This gives clients a plan for how to make their security better.
Advice on How to Fix Things
An important part of any security testing report is the list of things that need to be fixed. These ideas help businesses fix security holes and make their defenses stronger. A good report shows clear steps that can be taken to fix each risk it finds.
It could tell you to change settings, update software, or add new security measures like a web application router. Fixes should also be ranked by how important they are in the report. This will help teams work on the most important problems first.
Good repair help is more than just fixing things technically. It usually has advice on how to make protection better and train staff. In web apps, this could mean better checking of data or tighter controls on who can see what.
For networks, it could mean dividing them into sections or making the security rules tighter. Tips that are good always think about what the client can afford and what their business needs. They want to find a mix between security and usability so that the fixes can be put into action in the real world.
Fixing things and following up
The team solves problems once they’ve been found. They check once more to make sure the changes work.
Putting in place improvements to security
It’s important to fix security holes after a pen test. It’s important for teams to move quickly to fix holes and defend better. When you do this, you usually need to add new safety tools, update software, or change the configuration.
The IT team should start by working on the most important problems. Every fix has to be tried out first to make sure it works and doesn’t harm other systems.
There are more security updates coming. Firms need to teach their workers the new rules and the best ways to do things. Also, their protection rules should be brought up to date. New risks can be found before they become big problems when you check often.
Smart businesses make security a continuous process, not just something that happens once. This work is always going on to protect data and systems from online risks.
Tests Again to Confirm Fixes
In security testing, it’s very important to test again after fixes. It shows that the flaws that were found earlier are no longer there. Most experts say that this step should be done within 30 days. Testers check to see if the patches work as planned during this time.
They also check to see if there are any new weak spots.
When rules change a lot, they often need to be tested again. This helps keep computers safe from hackers. It is during this time that pentesters use tools such as web application filters and fuzzing methods.
They make sure that there are no gaps in protection. Fixes need to be done quickly. When holes are left open for too long, hackers are more likely to take advantage of them.
Communication with Stakeholders
Following a pentest, it’s important to communicate clearly with those who matter. To keep everyone on the same page, share the results and talk about how to fix them.
Sharing the results with the right people
It takes care and accuracy to share pen test data. Teams can only tell approved people what they’ve found. This keeps private information from getting into the wrong hands. Hackers with good intentions should encrypt reports and send them through safe routes.
Clear conversation helps everyone understand what’s important. When testers talk about weaknesses, they should use simple words and not tech terms. They also have to suggest ways to fix each problem that is found.
This method makes sure that everyone knows what the risks are and how to deal with them.
Making sure people understand and respond
For stakeholders to agree, it’s important to communicate clearly. Teams have to use simple words to explain the results of the pen test. This helps people who aren’t tech-savvy understand the risks and what needs to be fixed. Teams that are smart use charts and graphs to show trends in data.
In addition, they show how hackers could use found flaws in real life.
It is very important to get people to act on results. Pros in security should give clear, doable steps to fix problems. Also, they need to make clear when these fixes will happen. Follow-up talks help keep track of progress and deal with any problems that come up.
Everyone in the company sees the value in pen testing when it’s done this way.
Areas for specialized testing
Specialized testing places focus on certain types of technology. Apps that run on the web, on Wi-Fi, and on phones all need different kinds of security checks.
Penetration testing for web applications
Web application breach testing looks for places where online systems are weak. Common bugs like SQL injection and cross-site scripting are checked for by testers using tools like Burp Suite or OWASP ZAP.
They act like real threats to show risks before hackers can take advantage of them. This process needs to be approved by the law and should be done often as part of normal security checks.
Pen testers check how the app handles user input, keeps track of sessions, and keeps private data safe. They use login screens, forms, and APIs to try to get in. Things need to be looked for and fixed before they become real threats.
As part of a full security plan, you should also test mobile apps and cloud services.
Testing a wireless network
A big part of security testing is testing wireless networks. To find and check Wi-Fi networks, testers use tools like Aircrack-ng. They try to figure out what kind of entry points are fake and see how strong they are.
In this way, weak spots in wifi protection can be found.
It’s important for testers to keep track of what they do and what they find. They write clear papers that show all the issues they find. Companies can fix their wifi security problems with the help of these studies.
Pen testers might also have ideas for how to make Wi-Fi networks safer.
Testing the security of mobile apps
Apps for phones and computers are tested for security to see how safe they are. Testers look at the app’s structure and try to find places where it could be weak. They also make sure that the app can send data securely and that no one else can see it.
The code of the app is checked for bugs that hackers could use in this test.
Testers also look at the outside services that the app uses. These outside services can sometimes make things less safe. Tests help make sure that apps work right and keep user info safe.
The last part of pen testing is what we’ll talk about next.
In conclusion
Pen testing checklists help teams do important security checks. They help you find weak spots before hackers do. By testing systems often, you can keep them safe from new threats. Organizations that know what to do use these lists to stay ahead of online threats.
A good plan breaks down hard security tasks into clear, doable steps that make defenses stronger.